Easy Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe: Comforting Family Joy

Paula Deen’s baked spaghetti stands as a hearty culinary masterpiece that transforms ordinary pasta into an extraordinary comfort food experience.

Warm, cheesy layers mingle with robust meat sauce, creating a dish that promises serious satisfaction for hungry families.

Generations of home cooks have embraced this recipe’s delightful simplicity and crowd-pleasing potential.

The combination of pasta, sauce, and melted cheese produces a mouthwatering casserole that feels both nostalgic and exciting.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of textures and flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Crispy edges and a creamy interior make this dish a true crowd-pleaser that elevates weeknight dinners from mundane to memorable: dig in and enjoy!

What Makes Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti a Family Favorite

• Create Comfort in Every Bite: This baked spaghetti delivers ultimate comfort food satisfaction with its hearty layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and melted cheese that wrap you in warmth like a delicious culinary hug.
• Master a Restaurant-Quality Meal at Home: The recipe transforms simple ingredients into an impressive casserole that looks and tastes like something from a high-end Italian restaurant, allowing home cooks to wow their family and friends with minimal professional cooking skills.
• Customize Your Flavor Adventure: The recipe offers incredible flexibility for personalization, letting you adjust seasonings, swap ground beef for other meats, or add extra vegetables to make the dish uniquely yours while maintaining its core deliciousness.
• Meal Prep Magic for Busy Lifestyles: With make-ahead potential and excellent reheating qualities, this baked spaghetti becomes a perfect solution for meal planning, providing delicious leftovers that taste even better the next day and saving precious time during hectic weekdays.

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

• Diced Tomatoes: Fresh base for the sauce, look for ripe and flavorful canned tomatoes.
• Tomato Sauce: Provides smooth texture and rich tomato flavor.
• Water: Helps to create the right sauce consistency.
• Onions: Adds depth and sweetness to the sauce.
• Peppers: Introduces mild heat and extra vegetable flavor.
• Garlic: Brings robust, aromatic flavor to the sauce.
• Parsley: Adds fresh herbal notes.
• Bay Leaves: Provides subtle earthy background flavor.
• Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Seasonings: Enhances overall sauce taste.

• Ground Beef: Main protein component, choose lean ground beef for less grease.

• Angel Hair Pasta: Thin pasta that cooks quickly and provides delicate texture.

• Cheddar Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese: Melts beautifully, provides creamy and rich flavor layer.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds sharp, salty note to the dish.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

Step 1: Create Flavor-Packed Sauce

• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• Water
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 chopped bell pepper
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper
• Sugar
• 2 bay leaves

Combine all sauce ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, allowing flavors to develop and meld together.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain excess fat completely. Add beef to the simmering sauce and cook for an additional 20 minutes to infuse flavors.

Step 3: Prepare the Pasta

Boil angel hair pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, ensuring pasta is perfectly cooked but not mushy.

Step 4: Layer the Casserole

• Spread a thin sauce layer on the bottom
• Add a layer of pasta
• Sprinkle 1/2 of

* Mozzarella cheese

* Cheddar cheese

* Parmesan cheese

Repeat layers, ending with a final sauce topping.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake casserole for 30 minutes. Remove and top with remaining cheese. Return to oven for 5 more minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Allow casserole to cool for 5-10 minutes. Cut into square portions. Serve hot and watch everyone’s eyes light up with excitement!

Pro Tips for Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

• Enhance Sauce Depth: Slow-simmer the sauce for a full hour, allowing herbs and spices to meld and intensify flavors, preventing a flat-tasting dish.
• Preserve Pasta Texture: Remove pasta from boiling water slightly before fully cooked, ensuring it doesn't turn mushy during the baking process.
• Eliminate Excess Grease: Thoroughly drain ground beef after cooking, using a colander or paper towels to remove fat that could make the casserole heavy and oily.
• Distribute Cheese Strategically: Create even cheese layers throughout the dish, guaranteeing a consistent blend of gooey, melted cheese in every single bite.
• Allow Settling Time: Give the baked spaghetti a short resting period after removing from the oven, which helps ingredients bind together and makes serving cleaner and more precise.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

• Vacuum Seal: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer to remove air completely from the storage container. This method prevents freezer burn and extends the dish's lifespan up to 4-6 months, keeping flavors locked tight and texture pristine.
• Portion Packaging: Divide the baked spaghetti into individual serving sizes before storing. Wrap each portion separately in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil, making future meal prep a breeze and preventing unnecessary thawing of the entire batch.
• Quick Cooling: Spread the baked spaghetti on a large shallow pan to cool rapidly before storage. Lower temperature quickly reduces bacterial growth and preserves the dish's taste and texture, ensuring maximum food safety and quality for your next delicious meal.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

• Spicy Southwest Spaghetti: Replace ground beef with chorizo, add jalapeños to the sauce, and mix in pepper jack cheese for a zesty Mexican-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Veggie Bake: Swap ground beef with roasted eggplant and zucchini, incorporate feta cheese, and sprinkle oregano and basil for a Greek-style transformation.
• Protein-Packed Turkey Casserole: Use lean ground turkey instead of beef, add spinach to the sauce, and mix in some cottage cheese for extra protein and creaminess.
• Creamy Mushroom Vegetarian Option: Replace meat with sautéed mushrooms, stir in cream cheese to the sauce, and use a blend of mozzarella and parmesan for a rich, earthy alternative.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Baked Spaghetti

Paula Deen’s baked spaghetti brings Southern comfort straight to dinner tables nationwide.

Hearty pasta layers mingle with robust meat sauce, creating pure culinary magic.

Melted cheese cascades through each delectable portion, promising rich flavor profiles.

Home cooks can master this crowd-pleasing recipe with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.

Cheese lovers will appreciate multiple layers of gooey goodness nestled between pasta and savory sauce.

Savor each bite of this classic comfort dish that connects generations through delicious tradition.

Want more recipe inspiration?

Share this mouthwatering masterpiece, drop a comment below, and spread deliciousness with friends!

Paula Deen Baked Spaghetti Recipe

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4.9 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comfort meets Southern charm in Paula Deen’s baked spaghetti, a hearty casserole blending pasta, ground beef, and melted cheese. Creamy, rich layers promise a crowd-pleasing meal that brings warmth to dinner tables and delights hungry guests with classic American flavors.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds ground beef
• 8 ounces (226 grams) uncooked angel hair pasta
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups canned diced tomatoes
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

Vegetables and Herbs:

• ½ cup diced onion
• ½ cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 small bay leaves

Seasonings:

• 1.5 teaspoons Paula Deen’s House Seasoning
• 1.5 teaspoons Paula Deen Seasoned Salt
• 1.5 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1.5 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup water

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Instructions

1. Craft the aromatic tomato sauce by melding diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, finely chopped onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, fresh parsley, selected seasonings, a hint of sugar, and bay leaves in a spacious stockpot. Elevate the heat to bring the mixture to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, covering and allowing the flavors to meld for 60 minutes (1 hour).
2. While the sauce develops, transform the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the meat thoroughly, cooking until it loses its pink hue and becomes perfectly browned. Carefully drain any excess fat, then incorporate the cooked beef into the simmering sauce, allowing it to continue cooking for an additional 20 minutes.
3. Prepare the angel hair pasta according to package guidelines, ensuring it reaches the ideal al dente texture. Drain the pasta completely and set aside, keeping it warm and ready for assembly.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Select a 13 x 9 x 2-inch (33 x 23 x 5 centimeters) baking dish and create a foundational layer of sauce across the bottom. Strategically arrange a layer of pasta, then distribute slightly less than half of the combined cheeses. Repeat the layering process, concluding with a final generous sauce topping.
5. Slide the assembled casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the dish, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, and return to the oven until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust, approximately 5 additional minutes.
6. Allow the casserole to rest and slightly cool for easier serving. Slice into neat squares, revealing the beautiful layers, and serve while still warm and inviting.

Notes

• Savor the slow-simmered sauce that develops rich, complex flavors during its gentle hour-long cooking process.
• Perfectly time your pasta cooking to achieve that ideal al dente texture that holds up beautifully in the casserole.
• Eliminate excess grease by thoroughly draining the ground beef, transforming your dish from potentially heavy to delightfully light.
• Create a harmonious cheese distribution that guarantees maximum flavor in every single bite of the casserole.
• Allow the baked masterpiece a brief moment of rest, letting the layers meld and set for picture-perfect serving.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 685
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 1,048mg
• Fat: 42g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 31g
• Cholesterol: 120mg